We believe that quality education for our children is best delivered in person, in schools.

This is confirmed by experts in education, both local and foreign, as well as by health authorities in Malta and abroad – it is therefore our duty to provide this quality education, that is in person, in schools.

The closing of schools due to COVID-19 led to the greatest disruption in education which we have experienced on a global level in recent history. It is crucial that we continue the educational journey for all students in class at this important juncture.

We are committed to do exactly that.

In the past weeks and months, we made sure that all measures prescribed in the guidelines for the re-opening of schools are adhered to.  We took the decision that prior to the re-opening of schools, independent risk assessors, registered with OHSA, inspect each and every school to certify whether prescribed measures were successfully implemented in each school.  We did that in order to make sure that all measures prescribed by the health authorities were undertaken for the benefit of all students, educators, parents and employees in schools.  We appeal for the co-operation of all those involved so that all measures are adhered to at all times.

As has been already declared, educators will return to school on 28 September, 2020. 

In the meantime we have been uploading daily on the Ministry’s social media pages and on the Ministry’s official Facebook page Edukazzjoni, information about what we have been doing in our schools to lessen the COVID-19 risk for students and educators.

The more than 50 measures we have implemented and put into place follow the publication of the Advice and guidelines to the educational sector for the re-opening of primary and secondary schools in Malta issued by the Ministry for Health. In accordance to these advice and guidelines, the Directorates for Education together with schools are implementing more than 50 measures related to the school logistical and operation for the re-opening of schools during the COVID-19 period. We are going to stick to these guidelines to make sure that we provide an environment with the minimum risk possible.

I reiterate that the World Health Organisation was clear in its advice that children should go to school under specific safeguards which have the aim of minimising the risk of infection from COVID-19.

I will not repeat the measures we have and are implementing I dealt with in last week’s article. However, all the measures taken have been thorough to the extent that we also went through the revision of all syllabi, from Kindergarten to Year 8, to adjust them and compensate for the loss of the six months we had with the closure of all schools. I heartily thank all Education Officers, and educators who understood this unprecedented circumstance leading to this revision.

An important aspect is hygiene. Not only personal hygiene, but the cleanliness of our schools.

One of the measures is that schools will be cleaned according to a particular protocol. During this scholastic year we are increasing by more than 40% the cleaning hours – meaning that we will have more cleaning staff in our schools to observe this protocol.

All measures being taken in our primary, middle and secondary schools have one priority – that of taking care of each other – but cooperation from all is of the utmost importance. It is essential that all students, whatever their age, and all educators to follow every measure we implementing.

As is important that all parents and custodians follow the advice of the Health Authorities all the time, and not only those in connection with the scholastic year. Parents are being asked to take the temperature of their children prior to sending them to school. They are also being asked to respect and observe the protocol at the entrance of all schools. No one, if not authorised, will be allowed beyond all school gates. Authorised persons are the students, the educators and the school staff, who also have to observe a protocol.

These measures can be annoying, but they are very necessary measures, which should be observed carefully and without hesitation in order to truly protect ourselves and those around us at school.

Again, I conclude that with the help and co-operation of all, we can make sure that we keep delivering high quality education to our children, whilst providing an environment where risk is minimised as much as possible.